The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle
Corps

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rick Robida

Rick came to the Toronto
Optimists from the Grantham Police Boys Band. In addition to Grantham
Rick marched with the Toronto Optimists, the Canadian Commanders,
Guelph Royalaires, the Optimists Alumni and the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni. He has
also served as the Corps director for the Optimists Alumni and
was on the board of Drum Corps International.

Rick was a kind and gentle
soul who loved the Optimists. One of the first things Rick did
after becoming corps director for the Optimists Alumni was to
resurrect Green Capsule Comments, the Optimists newsletter. The photo on the right shows Rick in
2013 when he marched in our Honour Guard, proudly wearing the "old"
Toronto Optimists uniform.

Here are a few comments from some of those who knew him.

"Rick
was a fine and honourable Optimist."

"It
is unfortunate that we must lose a great person like Rick. A great
friend and marching pal. Always greet you with open arms. A terrible
loss to all who knew him."

"A
very committed individual. It was both an honour and a privilege
to march and work with him in The Optimists Alumni."

"I
know him as a kind, supportive man who knew and loved Corps."

"What
a great guy Rick was. Any time I spoke with him he always asked
how Gaelen was doing. I'm also grateful for his leadership in the
Alumni while I was a member. "